Johnny Kovatch

John Paul Kovatch (June 6, 1912 – October 11, 2013) was a professional American football player who played six games as an end for the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League (NFL) during their 1938 season.[1] His tenure with the Rams ended in October 1938, when he fractured his backbone and was injured for the remainder of the season.[2]

Kovatch was born in South Bend, Indiana and took up football at Central High School.[3] Prior to his professional career he was an end on the Northwestern Wildcats football team from 1935 through 1937.[4] After his professional career he took up football coaching at Saginaw High School in Michigan. He then served as grid coach at Illinois Wesleyan University,[5] before becoming head football and basketball coach in January 1942,[6] in addition to positions that he already held as athletic director and track coach. In April 1942, however, he joined Indiana University Bloomington as an assistant coach.[3] In April 1944 he was called to serve in the United States Army during World War II.[5]

Kovatch stayed at Indiana until March 1947, when he joined the coaching staff of his alma mater, Northwestern University.[4] He remained there until February 1955 and was hired as an end coach at the University of Nebraska the following month.[7] Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the University of Kansas.[8] Until his death in October 2013, he was the second-oldest living former NFL player, behind Ace Parker.[9]